By Justin Cohen
Wozniacki signs multi-million dollar deal with Proactiv
WWD is reporting that World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has signed a two-year multi-million dollar deal with skin care brand, Proactiv. Wozniacki is expected to make several million dollars. Parent company Gunthy-Ranker confirmed the estimate but declined to give further details on the exact contract amount. “I first started to break out when I was about 15 years old,” said Wozniacki. “That’s not so unusual, but I was playing a lot of tournaments back then, so I was in the public eye. I didn’t really feel comfortable with all the cameras around because I wasn’t confident about my skin. I’m glad I have Proactiv. A lot of athletes struggle with their skin because we’re always sweating, and we’re under a lot of stress. I see other girls in the locker room trying to cover their pimples with makeup, but they know it’s not going to work. The minute you start sweating, it comes right off. When they ask me how I keep my skin so nice, I always tell them about Proactiv.” Serena Williams was a previous ambassador for the brand.
Source: Sharapova likely to play Fed Cup tie in 2011
Despite Russian Fed Cup Captain Shamil Tarpishchev stating that Maria Sharapova will be in Russia’s line-up with Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for their tie against France in Moscow from February 5-6, a source in Sharapova’s camp told Tennis.com that she is only “very likely” to play. Sharapova must play Fed cup at least once in 2011 to be able to participate in the 2012 Olympics. She last played Fed Cup for Russia in 2008 against Israel, the same year she won the Australian Open.
Clijsters to play at Mercury Insurance Open in 2011
Tournament officials announced that two-time defending US Open champion Kim Clijsters has committed to play in the 2011 Mercury Insurance Open at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. “We are absolutely delighted to announce Kim’s early entry into next year’s tournament,” said Raquel Giscafre, Mercury Insurance Open Tournament Director. “She is one of the most popular players on the tour and has always been a great fan favorite at La Costa.” In 2010, Clijsters captured five singles titles and defended her US Open title in New York. The Belgian finished 2010 by defeating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark to win the WTA Championships in Doha and ended the year ranked No. 3 in the world. Clijsters will be making her seventh career appearance in Carlsbad. She reached the singles final in 2003, losing to fellow Belgian Justine Henin, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and in 2006, falling to Russia’s Maria Sharapova, 7-5, 7-5.
Fish commits to Houston
Mardy Fish, who will finish the 2010 season ranked No. 16 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, has committed to the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. “We are excited to welcome Mardy Fish back to Houston and River Oaks, said Van Barry, Tournament Director.
Slight drop in attendance at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London from last year
ATP officials announced that 253,123 attended eight days of tennis at the O2 in London during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, a slight drop from 256,830 who attended in 2009. However, eight sessions sold out with 17,500 spectators this year.
Television ratings high in United Kingdom for Murray vs. Nadal semifinal match
The Andy Murray vs. Rafael Nadal three-set semifinal thriller at the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Final at the O2 in London was the second most watched sporting event on television in the United Kingdom last Saturday with 2.9 million viewers. The championship match between Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal, which Federer won in three sets, drew in 2 million viewers.
$127,755 raised in ATP online charity auction
Self-portraits and signed racquets of the eight players who competed at the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London raised a total of $127,755. The players produced self-portraits by hitting paint covered tennis balls at large art canvases. Each canvas was overlaid with a stenciled image, which, when removed, revealed a unique self-portrait showing one of the player’s signature moves on court. All proceeds from the auction will benefit charity, with 50 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Barclays ATP World Tour Final official charity, Save the Children, and the other 50 percent going to each player’s chosen charity. Andy Roddick’s self-portrait went for $33,100, while Roger Federer’s went for $27,300. Rafael Nadal’s went for $26,500, while Novak Djokovic’s went for $22,103. A total of 663 bids were placed on the eight pieces of art.
Australian Government to put $3 million towards Grassroots program
The Australian government will put $3 million towards tennis participation over the next four years.”We’ve done extensive research and this funding will allow us to activate the high level of interest Australians have in tennis, and help us further grow the number of people actively involved in our sport,” said Steve Wood, Tennis Australia Chief Executive.
Three Aussie players banned from Australian Open wildcard playoff
The Herald Sun is reporting that Tennis Australia has expelled three male players from the upcoming Australian Open wildcard playoff for bad behavior, which takes places from December 17-19. The players who are banned from the playoff are Brydan Klein, the 2007 Australian Open boys’ singles champion, 2006 runner-up Nick Lindahl and Dayne Kelly have been told they cannot contest the playoff. “This action has been taken following reports of numerous accounts of unacceptable behavior at tournaments both locally and internationally over the past few months,” said Todd Woodbridge of Tennis Australia. “All players are expected to abide by Tennis Australia’s code of ethics and behavior. The opportunity to participate in the Australian Open playoff is a privilege, not a right. This decision will send a clear message to all Australian players that breaching this code will not be supported by Tennis Australia through the granting of wildcards or other financial support.” Last year, Klein was suspended for six months for allegedly using a racial slur towards a South African player and then spitting at his coach and another player during a tournament in England. After losing a match two weeks ago in New Zealand, Klein was seen throwing his racquet, cursing and battling courtside photographers.
Serena pulls out of 2011 Australian Open
Following surgery in October on her foot, two-time defending Australian Open champion Serena Williams has notified Tournament Director Craig Tiley that she has to pull out of the 2011 Australian Open as she continues to rehab her foot. “As I continue to rehabilitate my foot after the second surgery last month, it is with the utmost regret that I am withdrawing from the Hopman Cup and the 2011 Australian Open Championships,” said Williams in a statement.
Hewitt to work with Tony Roche and Josh Eagle
Lleyton Hewitt will work with tennis great Tony Roche under a shared agreement with Tennis Australia, since he is already a Davis Cup Coach with Captain Patrick Rafter. Hewitt will also work with former ATP doubles player Josh Eagle, who is married to former Austrian WTA player Barbara Schett. “I will be working in conjunction with Tennis Australia, and have Rochey as my main coach and at other times through the year work with Josh Eagle, a Davis Cup coach,” said Hewitt. “We will be really taking a team approach into next year, with Rochey being at the major events and Josh being an integral part at other times.”
Robson training at Patrick Mouratoglou Academy
Great Britain’s Laura Robson, 16, is training near Paris at the famous Patrick Mouratoglou Academy and will work with one of the coaches at the academy throughout the 2011 season. Robson, who will team with Andy Murray at the Hopman Cup in Perth in January, split with her Dutch coach Martijn Bok in September.
Hrbaty hangs up the racquets
Former World No. 12 and father-to-be in December, Dominik Hrbaty, has retired from the ATP World Tour after starting his professional career in 1996. The 32-year-old, who resides in Monte Carlo, won six titles throughout his career. The Slovakian earned many big wins throughout his lengthy career over Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marcelo Rios, Marat Safin and Andy Roddick. He earned more than $7 million in tournament prize money, while reaching the semifinals at the French Open in 1999, the quarterfinals twice at the Australian Open and once at the US Open.
Roddick, Sampras exhibition in Omaha rescheduled
An exhibition match between Andy Roddick and Pete Sampras that was scheduled for this Friday in Omaha, which was to include Bob and Mike Bryan and billionaire Warren Buffet, has been rescheduled until December 17 because Roddick is attending a family funeral.
Wozniak to miss 2011 Australian Open
Aleksandra Wozniak announced last Friday that she has withdrawn from the 2011 Australian Open with an undisclosed health issue. She last played at the US Open, where she was treated for tendonitis to the forearm.
Nestor-Zimonjic end partnership on high note
Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic completed their three-year partnership on a high-note, as they won the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the second time. The Canadian-Serbian duo defeated Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi in straight sets for the title. It was the seventh title of the year for the pair, including the French Open and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. In 2011, Nestor will team up with Mirnyi and Zimonjic will team up with France’s Michael Llodra. “We finished great,” said Nestor. “It’s (been) a great partnership. We won three slams, two Barclays ATP World Tour Finals titles, a lot of individual Masters (1000) tournaments throughout the years, a lot of tournaments. Pretty good record in finals, too. (It’s the) most successful partnership I’ve had. This is three years of winning a lot. Very solid play. Obviously too bad that we’re not continuing. But at the same time we had a great run.”